Question

Find four consecutive odd integers whose sum is -8

Answer 1

The 4 consecutive odd integers whose sum is -8 are -5, -3, -1, 1

Explanation:

Let the smallest integer be 2k + 1, where 2k + 1 is the formula for an odd integer,

Then since they are consecutive, we have,

2k + 1 + (2k + 1 + 2) + (2k + 1 + 4) + (2k + 1 + 6) = -8

2k + 2k + 2k + 2k + 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 = -8

8k + 16 = -8

8k = -8 - 16

8k = -24

k = -24/8

k = -3

Hence the smallest one is (2(-3)+1) = -5, and consequently, the rest are,

-3, -1, 1